Top 5 reasons to be at Center of the Universe Festival July 25-26

It’s almost music festival time for this girl. I am officially counting down the days until I hit the road to Tulsa (10, for the record) for Center of the Universe Festival. I’m not a festival junkie – I usually pick one a year to attend, if I’m feeling brave – but I sure feel like one as I dream of seeing band after band, enjoying some festival foods and going on yet another music adventure. (All while keeping these tips for doing music festivals smarter in mind, of course.)

Center of the Universe Festival is in its second year in Tulsa, Okla. and in addition to boasting some killer headliners this year (AWOLNATION, Young the Giant, Fitz & the Tantrums, Cold War Kids, Twenty One Pilots & Capital Cities) they also have a fantastic line up of regional bands (perfect for local music junkies like me) all playing in some lovely venues, big and small, right in downtown Tulsa.

Here are my top 5 reasons you should grab a ticket and join me at this festival:

1. Tickets are super affordable
At a mere $50 (or $35 for a one-day pass), this two-day festival is beyond a bargain. While your friends have shelled out hundreds for other big-name festivals around the country, you can go to COU for a quarter of the price.

2. The bands are awesome
In addition to always loving Fitz & the Tantrums live, I’m super excited about seeing Young The Giant live again. (Last time I saw them was 5 years ago in a tiny room in Austin.) Plus the number of local bands, like Carnegie and Desi & Cody, I get to revisit or finally see after my Tulsa friends keeps growing. Add in the regional bands on my radar, like Dovetail and Otis the Destroyer, I haven’t tracked down live yet, and this lineup was pretty much made for me – or anyone who loves discovering new music.

3. It’s an evening fest
Gates open at 5 p.m. and the first bands start at 5:30. This is a major plus for me, little girl who wilts in the heat that I am. An entire day to wander around and explore Tulsa (or visit old haunts), an entire evening to rock out. Yes, please!

4. There’s an after party
At ACL, you’re gonna pay another $30 a pop for an after party show. At COU, it’s part of the festival. After the headlines both nights, you’ll be treated to a number of bands playing the after parties around the festival venues. Plus, DJ Jazzy Jeff. You will find me there dancing to “Summertime.”

5. Tulsa is amazing
That’s a totally bias opinion, but seriously…I love this city. With the number of artists and foodies and musicians and 30-somethings just doing their thing…I’ve always seen it as the next Portland or Austin or Nashville. Good eats, awesome coffee shops, beautiful rolling green hills…Tulsa is amazing. Plus, how far is Tulsa from you, really? It’s practically the center of country. (Esp. close for you, Texas reader. Hint hint.)